Knockdown chair



Aug 7, 1951 P. L..l cAPRoN r-:T Ap 2,563,706

KNOCKDOWN CHAIR Filed July 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Aug. 7, 1951 GFFICE 2,563,706 KNOCKDOWN CHAIR` Phillip L. Capronand James C. Billheimer, Indianapolis, VInd.

Application July 14, 1949,7Serial- N0. 104,724 6 Claims. v(Cl. 155-496) rlhis invention relates to an article of furniture such as a chair or the Ylike. A

4A primaryobject of the invention is to provide an article of furniture which can be constructed lfrom thin flat sheet material such as cardboard, corrugated strawboard, or sheet metal, vand which therefore can be cut out at a factory and thenV shipped disassembled and stored in flat condition to conserve space.

A further important object of this invention is to provide an article of furniture which can be assembled at the place where it is to be used without the necessity for the use of special tools or any ,particular skill on the part of the assembler.

Further objects and advantages of this invention. including the securing of exceptional rigidity in the assembled article, and in the inexpensive, efficient and `facile method of manufacture and assembly, will become obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description of one particular form of the invention as'. illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which `.Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation and partial section of a chair embodying the invention; Fig.A 2 is a View in side elevation and partial section thereof ;l

, ig. 3 is .a top plan view in partial section thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view in top perspective of the base forthe chair with part of the base panels broken away;

Fig. 5 isa top plan view of a blank formed for the chair seat;

Fig. 6 isa viewin top perspectiveof a front leg of the chair;

Fig. '1 is a View in elevation of a rear leg of the chair; and

Fig. 8 is a view in top .planof a blank from which a back support of the chair is formed.

Referring tothe drawings, in which like reference. of characters refer to likeparts through out the several views, a base. panel I0, Fig. 4,.ls formed 'to be generally rectangular in shape and to have aslot II .entering from the top edge I2 to extend downwardly, centrally andvertically of the panel IIJ to terminate at a lower end I3 at approximately the mid-point vertically .of the panel I0. The width of this slot II is madeto be equal to thethickness of the panel I itself.

vThe panel I0 is provided with a vertically disposed slot Mentering from the top edge I2 adjacent the vertical edge I5, vand this slot I4 is carried downwardly fromthe topedge,V I2 in parallel alignment with the edge I to terminate at a lower end I6 located approximately at the mid-point of the height of the panel IIJ. A slot I1 enters from the edge I2 adjacent the opposite vertical edge i8 to be carried downwardly in parallel alignment therewith to terminate by a lower end I9 in the plane of the ends I3 and I6. A second panel is formed to have a vertically disposed slot 2I entering from its lower edge 22 to extend centrally oi the panel 20 upwardly to terminate by an end 23 approximately at the mid-point vertically of the panel 20. The panel 20 is provided with a slot 24 entering from the top edge 25 to extend downwardly in parallel alignment with the vertical edge 2S, and to terminate by a lower end 21 substantially in a horizontal plane including the upper end 23 of the slot 2|. Further, the panel'ZI) Vis provided with a slot 28 entering from the top edge 25 adjacent the other vertical edge 29 and is carried vclownwardly in parallel alignment with the edge `2 9 to terminate by an end 30 in theplane of the ends 23 and 21.

The two panels I0 and 20 are interengaged by carrying the lower edge 22' of the panel. 20 downwardly in reference to the top edge I2 `of the panel I0 to have the upper portion A enter the slot II and the lower'portion B of the panel I0 enter the slot 2| Vand to have therespectiveends `of the vslots I I and" 2I, that is the ends I3 and 23,

come into abutment one with the other. The slots II and 2|, both being made to be substantially as wide as. the thicknesses of the, two panels, frictinally engage the portions A and B',an,d tend to retain the panels II) and 20 at right anglesone to the other as indicated in Fig. 4.'

Secured to these base panels IIJ and 2|),A are the front legs 3I and 32, and the rear legs 33 and 34.

The front legs 3| and 32 are identical, and therefore a description of one is sufficient to describe both. Referring to Fig. 6 primarily, the leg 3| is shown as being formed to have the four face panels, namely the panel 35, the panel 36, the panel 31, and a panel 33, these panels being joined one to the other at their vertical edges integrally. The four panels are secured in a rectangular manner by means of a tonguel 39 extending from the panel 38 inside ofthe panel 35, and thesetwo panels and 33 are then secured one to theother in any suitable manner. These four panels 35, 36, 31 and 38 form a rectangular, Vhollow column. A slot 4I) enters from the lower end of the leg. 3I to be centered on the juncture line 4I between the panels 31 andl38. This slot 43 is carried upwardly a distance approa- `the other in that order.

imately equal to that distance from the slot end I9 to the lower edge 42 of the panel |U, this distance being the same as that from the lower end 21 to the bottom edge 22 of the panel 20.

The legs 3I and 32 are attached to the forwardly extending end portions of the panels l and 2|) by having the panel portions enter through the slot 4|) and then pushing the legs downwardly to bring the fold line 4| into the respective slots I1 on the panel IU and 24 on the panel 20 to have the upper end 42 of the slot 40 come into abutment in each instance with the end IS of the slot |1 and the end 21 of the slot 24. The

over-all length of each of the legs 3| and 32 is made to be equal to the height' of each of the panels I0 and 20. Thus, the upper end of the leg in each instance will be in the same plane asV are the top edges I2 and 25, and the lower end of the leg in each instance will be in the plane of the bottom edges 22 and 42.

The slots |1 and 24 are spaced inwardly from the respective panel edges I8 and 23 a distance to form the tongues 43 and 44. The width of these respective tongues 43 and 44, along the faces is made to be equal to a diagonal line across from the juncture of the leg panels 31, 38, and the panels 35, 36 so that the tongues will fit snugly within the legs without any play.

The rear legs 33 and 34 are identical in construction and dimensions. Therefore a descrip- .tion of the leg 34 will suilice not only for that leg, but also for the leg 33. Referring to Fig. 1, as well as Figs. 13, the leg 34 is formed to comprise a rectangular hollow column to consist of the faces 45, 46, 41, and 48, hinged one to There is an inside flap 49, employedto lap over` on the inside of the face portion 45 as a means for interconnecting those two members 45 and 49 in any suitable manner as may be desired. Centered on the fold line 50, there is formed a slot 5| entering between the faces 41 and 48 to continue upwardly from the lower end of the column to terminate at the upper end 52. This upper end 52 is spaced from the lower end of the faces 41 and 48 a distance equal to the lengthy of the slot 4D in the front legs 3| and 32.

The two back legs 33 and 34 are assembled on the rearwardly extending portions of the panels I0 and 20 by having the slot 5|, in each of those back legs receiving the end portions of those respective panels therethrough, and the legs are pushed downwardly to bring the seat 52 of the slot 5| into abutment respectively with the ends |`6 and 30 of the slots I4 and 28.

These rear legs 33 and 34 thus have their fold lines 50 immediately above the upper slot. end 52 located within the panel slots I4 and 28. The upwardly extending tongues 53 and 54 which are the portions of the panels I0 and 2U located outwardly between the slots I4 and 28 and the outer edges I5 and 29 extend entirely diagonally across the .inside of these rear legs 33 and 34 without any clearance between the slot wall and the outer marginal vertical edges. The legs 33 and 34 are made to have a greater length than that of the legs 3| and 32 so that there will be an appre ciable length of these rear legs extending above the top edges I2 and 25 of the panels Il] and 20. Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown therein a cut out blank 56 having notches 51 and 58 formed the blank 56 spaced inwardly from its margin. The blank is provided with slots'62 and 63 entering from the front edge along the score lines 59 and 60 respectively to terminate on the transverse score line 8 I.

The blank 56 is laid over the panels I0 and 20 to rest on the top edges I2 and 25 and to have the rear legs 33 and 34 received upwardly respectively through the slots 51 and 58, the dimensions of these slots being made such that the legs will be received snugly therein. Then the blank is bent on the score lines to have a ange 64 turned downwardly from the score line 53, a. flange 85 turned downwardly from the score line 60, a flange |56 turned downwardly across the front from the score line 6|, and then the end flaps 61 and 68 are turned inwardly under the front ap or flange 66 and there secured, see Figs. l3.

Since the front legs 3|, 32 and the rear legs 33, 34 are secured to the panels I0 and 20 in the manner above-indicated'these legs will be.

presented to have their faces at 45 degrees to the faces of the respective panels, and therefore will have faces presented in parallel arrangement with the downturned flanges of the blank 56. WhereA the flanges 64, 65, and the end flaps 61 and 68, contact the four legs, they may be secured thereto in any suitable manner so as to retain the blank 56 thus formed into position securely across the upper edges of the two panels Ill and 20.

A back rest generally designated by the numeral 69 is formed out of a blank 10i, Fig. 8, to be folded on a transverse line 1| to have the two contacting panels 12 and 13. The fold line 1| is presented at the upper side of the rest when it is interconnected between the upper portions of the legs 33 and 34 so that a rounded edge of a finished nature is thus presented. Each of the panels 12 and 13Vis provided respectively with the entering notches 14, 15 and 1B, 11 which will respectively coincide when the two panels 12 andv tive legs 33 and 34 whenthe ends of the backv rest section 12 are inserted` through slots 18 which are provided to enter from the top ends of the faces 48 and extend downwardly centrally thereof. The length of the combined panels 12 and 13 is such that their vertical edges will be in Contact with the inner sides of the faceportions ofthe legs 33'and 34 which are then presented opposite the faces 48. The upper fold line 1| in the present form is then made to be even with the top vided to fold over and tuck down inside of the posts by tongues 8|.

TheY invention has been described herein in one g particular form in minute detail, and it is ob' vious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, particularly in the possible variations in lengths of the rear legs 33 and34 so that the article of furniture may be a table, or have a higher back than indicated,V and the like. The

material from which the various elements above describe may be made'may vary, althoughthe common and well known corrugated 'liber board is quite suitable and will provide a very rrn and rigid structure when constructed in the manner above described. Pressed fiber board, or even metal, may be employed as malT be desired. Also there may be conceivably a variation in the crcssi sectional coniiguration of the posts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therei'ore we do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

We claim:

1. An article ol"- furniture comprising a base formed from two vertical panels centrally, vertically intersecting one another to present outer vertical edge portions, each of said edge portions having a vertically disposed slot entering from its top; hollow legs, each having a vertical slot entering from its lower end; said legs being interengaged with said panel edge portions by having a lower part of a panel edge portion entered through a leg slot, and an upper portion of the leg entered in said panel slot; a top extending across the top edges of said panel; and a downturned iiange extending across outwardly presented faces of said legs.

2. An article of furniture comprising two vertically disposed panels having centrally disposed slots entering therein respectively from relatively top and bottoniv edges, which panels interlock with each other through said slots to form a base having an X-shaped horizontal section, each of said panels having vertical slots spaced from the vertical edges and opening through the top edges thereof; hollow legs having end opening vertical slots therein, which legs interlock with the lateral edges of the panels through the end opening slots in the legs and the end opening vertical slots spaced from the vertical edges of the panels to hold the legs in an upright position; a seat resting on top of said base; and depending nanges on the front and sides of said seat.

3. An article of furniture comprising two vertically disposed panels having centrally disposed slots entering therein respectively from relatively top and bottom edges, which panels interlock with each other through said slots to form a base having an X-shaped horizontal section, each of said panels having vertical slots spaced from the vertical edges and opening through the top edges thereof; rectangular cross-section, hollow legs having end opening vertical slots therein, which legs interlock with the lateral edges of the panels through the end opening slots in the legs and the end opening vertical slots spaced from the vertical edges of the panels to hold the legs in an upright position; a seat resting on top of said base; and depending nanges on the front and sides of said seat; the distance which each of the leg interlocking panel slots is spaced from its respective vertical edge of the panel being equal to the diagonal distance from corner to corner of the inside of said hollow legs.

4. An article of furniture comprising a base formed from two vertical panels centrally, vertically intersecting one another to present outer vertical edge portions, each of said edge portions having a vertically disposed slot entering from its top; hollow legs, each having a vertical slot entering from its lower end; said legs being interengaged with said panel edge portions by having a lower part of a panel edge portion entered through a leg slot, and an upper portion of the leg entered in said panel slot; a top extending across the top edges of said panel; and a downturned flange extending across outwardly presented faces of said legs; two adjacent legs having the same height as said panels; the other two adjacent legs having a greater height than said rst two legs; and a member interconnecting the upper end portions of said two longer legs at Zones spaced above said seat.

5. An article of furniture comprising a base formed fromitwo vertical'panels centrally, vertically intersecting one another to present outer vertical edge portions, each of said edge portions having a vertically disposed slot entering from its top; hollow legs, each having a vertical slot entering from its lower end; said legs being interengaged with said panel edge portions by having a lower part of a panel edge portion entered through a leg slot, and an upper portion of the leg entered in said panel slot; a top extending across the top edges of said panel; and a downturned flange extending across outwardly presented faces of said legs; two adjacent legs having the same height as said panels; the other two adjacent legs having a greater height than said first two legs; and a member interconnecting the upper end portions of said two longer legs at zones spaced above said seat; said top having horizontal slots formed to receive the longer legs therein.

6. An article of furniture comprising a base formed from two vertical panels centrally, vertically intersecting one another to present outer vertical edge portions, each of said edge portions having a vertically disposed slot entering from its top; hollow legs, each having a vertical slot entering from its lower end; said legs being interengaged with said panel edge portions by having a lower part of a panel edge portion entered through a leg slot, and an upper portion of the leg entered in said panel slot; a top extending across the top edges of said panel; and a downturned flange extending across outwardly presented faces of said legs; two adjacent legs having the same height as said panels; the other two adjacent legs having a greater height than said first two legs; and a member interconnecting the upper end portions of said two longer legs at zones spaced above said seat; each of said longer legs having top entering slots on opposed inside surfaces; said member being interengaged with said longer legs by having a portion of said member entered in said leg slots and by having portions of said longer legs entered in slots in said member.

PHILLIP L. CAPRON. JAMES C. BILLHEIMER REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

